Clasp for tie construction and the like



March 12, 1935. s. EDELHEIT CLASP FOR TIE CONSTRUCTION AND THE LIKE Filed April 7, 1934 27 A9 /9 26 INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE s01 Edelheit, New York, N. Y. Application April 7, 1934, Stl'lfll No. 719,481

10 Claims.

This application contains subject matter taken from my application Serial no 685,879, filed August 19, 1933, now Patent No. 1,960,145, dated May 22, 1934, entitled Tie construction and clasp 5 therefor. 1

The application relates to a tie construction;

, more particularly, to a tie construction including a shirt engaging clip. Said'application has as an object thereof, the association with a necktie of a permanently attached clasp so that the free flowing ends of the necktie or cravat of the fourin-hand type may have permanently associated therewith fastening means to attach the free flowing ends to the bosom of the shirt of the wearer. More particularly, said application has for an object thereof the association with the free flowing end of four-in-hands, of permanently associated fastening means to attach and clasp the free flowing ends to the bosom or shirt of the wearer and to so associate such fastening means or clasp as to beneficially affect the necktie construction itself, so that by the incorporation of the fastening means or clasp, not only will the desirable function of this clasp be performed but certain classes of neckties may be used without interfering with the structural features entering into the construction of the tie.

Other objects of my said aforementioned invention reside in the permanent association with neckties of the four-in-hand type, of clasping or fastening means to hold the free flowing ends for attaching to the bosom of the shirt of the wearer, and where the tie construction includes resilient features, permanent attachment of the clasp or fastening means augments structural features of such resilient tie, and the attachment of the clasp or fastening means maybe utilized to supplement or displace certain operations involved in the finishing of ties of the character hereinbefore described.

In my present application, it is contemplated as an object of my invention to provide a resilient clasp including attaching means whereby in a simple stapling operation, the clasp may be aifixed to securely engage a wide range of thicknesses of fabric so that the tensioning action incident to using the clasp for the purposes set forth will avoid any tendency to tear the fabric.

It is further contemplated as an object of my invention to provide a resiliently engageable clasp made of substantially U-shaped spring metal strips, particularly useful in association with a tie construction as set forth in my aforementioned application, acting as a bar-tacking over fold or seam of the rear face of the necktie construction and to include attaching means for such clasp, attachment whereof may be effected by a simple stapling operation which engages the clasp to the fabric and serves to securely hold 5 the same in the desired position and for the purposes described, regardless of the thickness of the fabric constituting the tie construction.

It it further contemplated as an object of my invention to provide a clasp construction for the purposes described, particularly permitting attachment by a simple stapling operation, and where used specifically in connection with a tie, the rear face whereof has the folds or longitudinal seams connected by loose stitching will securely hold the contacting elements of the fold or seam without interfering with the free movement of the loose stitching connecting the folds of the tie.

Still further objects of my invention reside in the provision of a clasp, particularly valuable for the purposes described in connection with a tie construction, and comprising generally a substantially U-shaped resiliently-formed strip of metal, which includes attaching, stapling elements struck out from the body of the strip, a face of the strip having associated therewith means to prevent exposure of the piercing point of the prong and thereby avoiding objectionable contact between the clasp, its attaching means and the face of the garment to which the clasp is attached and to otherwise securely attach such clasp to the fabric of the garment.

To attain these objects and such further ob- 9 jects as may appear herein or be hereinafter 35 pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my device showing the back view of a necktie;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, with the necktie attached to the shirt of a wearer;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the clasp before attachment.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a clasp and attaching elements of another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 4 and its attaching element associated with the fabric.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the clasp. shown in Figure 4 directly applied to layers of fabric.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an attaching washer forming another embodiment of my invention.

For a clearer understanding of my invention, in its preferred form, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing in which 10 shows a necktie construction of the general four-in-hand type. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, this necktie construction is of the character made so that the knot forming portion includes a body of woven fabric generally arranged so as to give maximum resiliency to the tie, and in the folding of the tie, and in permanently associating the lining with the body of the fabric forming the tie, these folds are connected by loose stitching. Such necktie construction as contemplated by me may be considered of the general type as made under the patent to Langsdorf, No. 1,447,090 and similar construction, in which the resilient features hereinbefore referred to are embodied.

In the construction of the type of tie above referred to, where resiliency is the dominating feature, the joining together of the folds in the formation of a seam at the back of the tie by loose stitching leaves an exceedingly fragile construction. In an attempt to utilize clasps attached to the back of the tie, for purposes of fastening the tie to the shirt of the wearer, any pulling tendency on the tie will tend to break and disrupt the rather fragile construction of the tie, involving the loose stitching necessary for seaming together the folds of the tie and for maintaining the resilient characteristics of the tie.

In order to carry forward the general objective hereinbefore described, in the association with a necktie of the structural features hereinbefore described, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing wherein the body fabric of the tie 10, at the portion forming the seam 10a, is connected by a loose stitching 11, the end of which is knotted at 12, permitting free slippage of the fabric in relation to the stitching. Within the folds of this tie, a. lining 13 is provided, preferably of the resilient type, made from bias cut, resilient wool fabric, preferably of the character described in the prior mentioned patent to Langsdorf, although equivalent resilient linings may be employed. The knot forming portion 14 of the tie is formed at its rear with overlapping folds 14a and 14b, held to each other by the loose stitching 11, previously described.

For the attaching to a tie of the characte described of a shirt engaging clasp, I provide a general clasp 15 of the character shown in Figure 3 and n this construction, a simple sheet of spring metal, such as phosphor bronze is folded into two branches 16 and 17, respectively, each of which includes camming ends. In this form of clasp, on the rear branch 1'7, there is stamped out a pair of prongs 18and 19', respectively, the orifices 20 and 21 remaining after stamping the prongs previously mentioned from this branch. The clasp is looped adjacent the end so as to bring the branches 16 and l'l'into flat contacting relationship, to provide thev requisite friction in clasping any object to which the clasp is attached, as will be readily. understood.

With a clasp of the character described and illustrated in Figure 3, attachment may be effected to the completely formed necktie of the character hereinbefore described and this is accompl-ished by spanning the prongs 18 and 19,

respectively, over the seam 10a, adjacent the knot 12 of the loose stitching. The prongs 18 and 19 are driven through the fabric so that each of the prongs 18 and 19 is attached to the layers 14a and 14b, respecti'cly, spanning the stitching 11, and Without having any single prong pass through overlapping portions of the fabric adjacent the seam line. When the prongs are so driven through the fabric, they are then upset backwardly, in the manner shown in Figure 2, by stapling apparatus, to be anchored into the fabric not only at the base of the prong, but also at the point thereof. as this has been bent backward against the back of the branch 1'7, in this manner firmly connecting each of the prongs 18 and 19 to the folds 14a and 14b, respectively.

By this construction it will be apparent that the seam 10a; lies between the upset prongs 18 and 19 and that the tie folds 14a and 14b are joined together in a manner avoiding any interference whatsoever with the operation of the loose stitching 11. The folds 14a and 14b and the loose stitching holding the same therefore have the freedom of action originally contemplated by the loose stitching.

In the attachment of the device of this character to the shirt front or bosom of the shirt, the branch 16 is slipped over one fold 22 of the shirt, as shown in Figure 2, this operation being accomplished, after the tie has been knotted in position in the customary manner. When so attached, the clasp will hold the tie ends properly in position. Any pulling tendency upon the tie end,'when so clasped in position, will .not draw or tear apart the tie folds 14a and 14b, notwithstanding the loose connection of these parts, necessitated by the resilient construction involving the loose stitching. Both of the folds 14a and 14?) being held by the individual prongs, any pulling action occasioned by the anchoring of the clasp to the shirt bosom will be in an equalized manner and the function of the loose stitching in the resilient tie construction will not in any way be altered or impaired, nor will there be any tendency to stretch the folds. This connection of the clasp to the separate folds or across the seam formed by the folds 14a and 14b may be so speedily accomplished that tacking operations across the fold may be entirely eliminated and be accomplished more economically; further, the spaced relationship of the prongs over the folds does not interfere with'the resiliency of a tie construction of the character described, as would be occasioned by tacking the folds together.

Where it is desired to impart the minimum depth to the rear branch 1'7 and its attaching prongs so that in upsetting the prongs 18 and 19 adjacent the branch 17, a smoother finish is obtained on the back surface of the branch 17, this may be accomplished by embossing or displacing the metal to the rear of the prongs 18 and 19, as shown in Figure 3, forming depressions 23 and 24. These depressions are formed of a length and. depth to receive a substantial portion of the prongs 18 and 19, when they are upset upon the fabric to which they are attached and upon the face of the branch 17. The inner face of the branch 17, however, when accomplishing this embossing operation, will be left unaltered, to provide a substantially flat surface.

Though I have described the association of the clasp with the tie of the character described by aflixing the prongs 18 and 19 to the separate layers forming the folds 14a and 1427, some degree of success may be obtained by passing one of the prongs, either 18 or 19, through overlapping portions of the folds 14a and 14b. However, the prior construction as described by me is preferred.

Where the tie construction is of the character which does not employ the resilient features outlined in the patent to Langsdorf, previously mentioned, or similar tie constructions, and is of the character employing a non-distensible lining, the attachment of the clasp by the manner described hasmovel utility, especially in a tie construction having an interlining adjacent the tip and which is accomplished after the tie has been formed, and which requires, as the last finishing operation, the tacking together of the folds 14a and 1419. In this form of tie construction, the stapling of the tie clasp to the back of the tie readily supplants the tacking operations previously employed, and may be accomplished with greater facility and economy.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, I have illustrated a clasp in which the branch 17 is formed with depressions 23 and 24 which are designed to receive a substantial portion of the prongs 18 and 19, particularly the points thereof, which prevent the presentation at the back of the clasp, of any snagging points. I have found it more desirable to upset the prongs 18 and 19 towards each other, rather than away from each other, as shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, not only to avoid the piercing point of the prong 18 from entering the depression 23 formed upon the curved side of the branch 17 which. at this end has formedthereon a camming edge 25, but also for the additional purpose of directing the points of the prongs 18 and 19 into the cutouts 20 and 21 formed in the body of the metal from which the prongs l8 and 19 are stamped.

This variation of the upsetting of the prongs 18 and 19 is more clearly illustrated in Figure 6 where the clasp element is shown mounted directly upon a section of the fabric. In this view the points of the prongs 18 and 19 are shown disposed within the orifices 20 and 21 respectively, piercing through the fabric to which the clasp is attached and preventing the exposure of any snagging points.

The disposition of the prongs 18 and 19 is accomplished by a stapling device which forms the subject matter of a separate application, and when the prongs are upset towards each other as shown and described, in addition to the features already mentioned, difliculties encountered incident to the relationship of the camming edge 25 in proximity to the prong 18 and the die used in the stapling device for upsetting the prong 18 are entirely avoided.

In Figure 4 I have illustrated a clasp 15 of the general construction heretofore described, in which, however, I do not find necessary to include the recesses 23 and 24. I

Associated with the clasp illustrated in Figure 4, I provide a washer element 26 provided with orifices 27 and 28 aligned in relative position corresponding to the prongs 18 and 19, so that these prongs may readily pass through these orifices prior to the upsetting operation. Longitudinally disposed between the orifices 27 and 28 and for substantially the width of the orifices, I provide a. depressed section 29.

In use for attachment to the fabric of the garment as hereinbefore described, the clasp 15 'is disposed to one side of the fabric and the washer 26 is disposed to the opposite side of the fabric in aligned position. The stapling operation drives the prongs 18 and. 19 through the fabric and then through the orifices 27 and 28 respectively, clamping the fabric therebetween. At this point, the upsetting dies crimp or upset the prongs 18 and 19 towards each other to lie substantially fiat upon the washer 26 and this operation disposes the points ofthese prongs within the recess 29 and wholly within the body of the washer.

In Figure 7 there is shown in a perspective view another embodiment of a washer element corresponding generally to that illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. In this embodiment, however, the washer 30 is made of a continuously flat material and is provided with orifices 81 and 82 located to be in alignment with the prongs 18 and 19 of the clasp shown in the various views. Located between the orifices 31 and 32 there are provided orifices 83 and 34 at distances corresponding to the length of the prongs. In upsetting or crimping the prongs l8 and 19, the upsetting dies used by the stapling device direct the points of the prongs 18 and 19 so as to locate and rest'them within the orifices 33 and 34.

It will thus be observed that I have provided a clasp having novelty for purposes herein specifically described in connection with a tie construction, and that I have also provided attaching means therefor, of particular novelty when associated with the fabric of an article of apparel of the character described, in that the spaced prongs are directed in a manner to hold the fabric with the prongs engaged in spaced relationship without interfering with the operation of the elements of the tie construction. The arrangement of the prongs in relation to the body of the material from which the prongs are extended and to the fabric which the prongs engage, obtain security of attachment with fabric of delicate as well as tough texture. The relationship of the oppositely disposed prongs 18 and 19 and the manner in which they engage the fabric to which they are attached further assures an efiicient operation of the clasp for the purposes intended not only insofar as snagging prongs are avoided upon any exposed surface of the tie to which the clasp is attached, but also with garments with which the clasp is to be used in holding the clasp assembly in position.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. For use with a necktie of the construction including a resilient knot forming portion, the folds whereof being connected by loose stitching, a clasp for the'free ends of said tie comprising a substantially U-shaped strip forming oppositely disposed branches in resilient contacting engagement adapted to frictionally engage a shirt front or bosom of a wearer of said tie, one of said branches including prongs struck up from the intermediate body thereof and spaced from each to independently engage the folds of the tie, without interfering with the free movement of the loose stitching.

2. For use with a necktie of the construction including a resilient knot forming portion, the folds whereof being connected by loose stitching, a clasp for the free ends of said tie comprising a substantially U-shaped strip forming oppositely disposed branches in resilient contacting engagement, adapted to frictionally engage a shirt front or bosom of the shirt of a wearer of said tie, one of said branches including spaced prongs struck up from the body of the strip and spaced from each other, intermediate the ends of the branch whereby they may be crimped over on the back face of the strip into oppositely directed folded position leaving the fabric comprising the folds intermediate the prongs, free, and without interfering with the free movement of the loose stitching connecting the folds of the tie.

3. A necktie clasp adapted to be aflixed to the fabric thereof comprising a flat strip of material formed into overlying branches to provide resiliently disposed members, one of said branches having struck from the body thereof a pair of pointed spaced prongs, said prongs being arranged to be crimped or upset upon the fabric of the' necktie and piercing the same and means for receiving the piercing points of the prongs, nesting the same in the crimped or upset position to prevent exposure of the same to snagging in relation to other layers of fabric material.

4. A necktie clasp adapted to be affixed permanently to the fabric thereof, comprising a flat strip of material formed into a U-shape, providing overlying branches resiliently disposed to each other, one of said branches having struck therefrom a pair of pointed spaced prongs leaving orifices in the body of the branch intermediate thereof, said prongs in engagement with the fabric of the tie to which the clasp is attached, being directed towards each other to have the points of the prongs nested within the orifices on the branch of the clasp and preventing the points from exposure in snagging relat.on to other layers of fabric material.

5. A clasp for a necktie or the like, adapted to be permanently affixed thereto, comprising a flat strip, a fiat strip of material formed into integrally connected overlying branches of U- shaped contour, said branches being resiliently disposed to each other for frictionally contacting a layer of fabric disposed therebetween, one of said branches having struck out from the body thereof a pair of pointed piercing prongs, cooperating orifices therebetween formed in a strip of material, the prongs being arranged to be crimped or upset toward each other upon a layer of fabric of the necktie or the like with the points of the prongs nested within said orifices, avoiding exposure of the points in snagging relation to other layers of fabric material.

6. A clasp for neckties or the like, comprising a strip or band of metal bent into a substantially U-shaped contour to provide resiliently disposed branches arranged to frictionally engage a layer of a garment, with which said .tie is associated, one of said branches having struckup from the body thereof, a pointed piercing prong adapted to pass through a portion of the fabric of the necktie or the like, said prong being arranged to be upset or climped into engagement with the fabric upon cooperating means formed with a nesting "portion, to receive the point of the prong and avoid exposing said point into a snagging position.

'7. A clasp for neckties or the like, comprising a strip or band of metal bent into a substantially U-shaped contour to provide resiliently disposed branches arranged to frictionally engage a layer of a garment, with which said tie is associated, one of said branches having struckup from the body thereof, a pointed piercing prong adapted to pass through a portion of the fabric of the necktie or the like, said prong being arranged to be upset or crimped into engagement with the fabric upon cooperating means comprising a fastening strip formed with a nesting portion, to receive the point of the prong and avoid exposing said point into a snagging position.

8. A clasp for neckties or the like, comprising a strip or band of metal bent into a U-shaped contour to provide resiliently disposed branches, arranged to frictionally engage a layer of a garment with which said tie is to be associated, one of said branches having struck-up from the body thereof, spaced pointed piercing prongs adapted to pass through a portion of the fabric of the necktie or the like, said prongs being arranged to be upset or climped into engagement with the fabric and upon an orificed fastening strip having a depressed portion, said portion serving to nest the prongs when crimped in position to receive the points of the prongs and avoid exposing the same.

9. A clasp for necfxties or the like, comprising a strip or band of metal bent into a U-shaped contour to provide resiliently disposed branches, arranged to frictionally engage a layer of a garment with which said tie is to be associated, one of said branches having struck-up from the body thereof, spaced pointed piercing prongs adapted to pass through a portion of the fabric of the necktie or the like, said prongs being arranged to be upset or crimped into engagement with the fabric and upon an orificed fastening strip having an intermediate nesting portion for the prongs when crimped or upset in position to receive the points of the prongs and avoid exposing the same.

10. A clasp for neckties or the like, comprising a strip or band of metal bent into a U-shaped contour to provide resiliently disposed branches,

arranged to frictionally engage a layer of a garment with which said tie is to be associated, one of said branches having struck-up from the body thereof, spaced pointed piercing prongs adapted to pass through a portion of the fabric of the necktie or the like, said prongs being arranged to be upset or crimped into engagement with the fabric and upon an orificed fastening strip having an intermediate nesting portion comprising orifices in said strip for the prongs when crimped or upset in position to receive the points of the prongs and avoid exposing the same.

SOL EDELHEIT. 

